The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-12-17


the monitors, others TO keep the sluict
clear. and a full score Of mon at tn
works where the gold was separate
. from the dirt, rocks and gravel, by
process on the principle of the miner
cradle, but on a far larger scale.
Several others assisted about til
works in different capacities. One 9
these latter, George CARING, ha'
charge of the hume, reservoir ant
pipes, and it was his duty to wal
along them to tho lake and bacl
again every other day, for the short
ness OF the line made a daily journey
unnecessary. When any thing was OH
Of rep ,ir. he took a few of the mer
with him, and mended it.
Not very long ago, while visiting
the mining districts Of California ant
Nevada. the writer met both Mr.
Baird and Mr.. Carling, and in the
course of conversation, the latter re-
lated an adventure with which he had
met a few weeks before.
ut has always been my care" said
he, 'to examine, particularly, that
| part of the fume which runs along
the side of the precipice, a rather
v]enturesome duty, I assure you. In
some places l can not see over ten feet
of it at Il time, where it winds in and
out around the projecting rocks. At
one place it goes around a crag. and
seems to be glued. rather than bolted
and stayed, to the rock. At another
place it winds along a shelf of rock,
but it always goes down a grade
steep enough to make the water rush
and roar in the open, box-like channel.
'On this part of the flume l spend
about four hours. Any slight damage
might soon become serious here.
III, for example, an iron brace
loosened its hold on the hook. a hum
bred feet or more of the tlume might
come down. and that would be quite a
disastrous accident, as we should lose
much water, and probably be obliged
to suspend work until it could be re-
paired. And, as the iron hooks do
loosen, occasionally, it is necessary for
me to examine them all. They are
fastened TO the rock. each in a drilled
hole. and sulphur is run around them.
Then also keep the gate in repair,
AS drift-wood and dirt wash in from
lake, blocking the passage of the
and rendering it impossible to
close the gate. My return journey l
used to accomplish quickly enough, for
| turned the water partially off, leav-
4 running current halfway up the
of the tlune, and on this EN-
in 4 small canoe which one Of
he workmen had made for me.
Once launched in the fiumc my
would make a rapid passage,
darling around the curves and along
he precipice. 1t only took about
wenty minutes to make the five miles.
course it was much easier than
Walking, but. perhaps, it was also a
title more dangerous.
"As the flume, when only half full,
7ould not keep the reservoir supplied,
was compelled, the next time l went
p, to turn on the full head. Con-
equently Icould float down only every
trip.
"The lake seems fed by springs, and
s its natural outlet is damned. ito
after was wasted by my operation. 1t
AS also necessary to keep the reser-
DIR from overlooking in the night, :
nd | have to turn the water partly off ,
t times. .
"lf a pony were OF any use, OF
purse ! should not have made my pas
.ge III that way. but it is very rough ,
nd rocky in some places, and takes !,
n expert mountainecr to climb =,
l became so accustomed to :
10 ride, that | scarcely thought of the
9
ut was necessary TO lie fiat on my f
ack in the canoe, on account of the +
'oss pieces across the fume, and look /
g up | could see the sky and rocks T.
me, and feel my little craft make .
&c sharp corners. The side of the i
Inc served to check and correct its 4
tcral motion. Then, in n very short n
ne, ! would shoot out on the broad a
aters of the reservoir, which re-
mblcd a lake nesting between the i
is. And | made a bargain with an i,
dian, who used to fetch down fish :,
game to our camp, to tote my -
noe back to the lake for me on his
turn trips. f.
Il was warned, however, in n very 4
'actical way, thai these rides were I,
Lnoerous. =,
"One morning, as | was making my g
ual trip along the prec'plcc, and h
er the craigs, a noise l had never q
ard before came TO my ears. 1t e
undcd like a small Niagara, and h
me with such startling distinctness
at l stopped short to listen. Then @
ceased, and was succeeded by n dull .
A%pprehensivc of some disaster, @
hurried along, and before ] had gone :
l noticed that the nume was